Slowly，outoftheawfulshadows，theGhostsofMemoryroseaboutme。Thedeadpopulationofavanishedworldcamebacktoliferoundme，alivingman。Menandwomenwhoseearthlypilgrimagehadendedlongsince，returneduponmefromtheunknownspheres，andfond，familiarvoicesbursttheirwaybacktomyearsthroughtheheavysilenceofthegrave。Movingbymeinthenamelessinnerlight，whichnoeyesawbutmine，thedeadprocessionofimmaterialscenesandbeingsunrolleditssilentlength。Isawoncemorethepleadingfaceofafriendofearlydays，withthehauntingvisionthathadtorturedhimthroughlifebyhissideagain——withthelong—forgottendespairinhiseyeswhichhadoncetouchedmyheart，andboundmetohim，tillIhadtrackedhisdestinythroughitsdarkestwindingstotheend。Isawthefigureofaninnocentwomanpassingtoandfroinanancientcountryhouse，withtheshadowofastrangesuspicionstealingafterherwherevershewent。Isawamanwornbyhardshipandoldage，stretcheddreamingonthestrawofastable，andmutteringinhisdreamtheterriblesecretofhislife。
Otherscenesandpersonsfollowedthese，lessvividintheirrevival，butstillalwaysrecognizableanddistinct；ayounggirlalonebynight，andinperilofherlife，inacottageonadrearymoor——anupperchamberofaninn，withtwobedsinit；thecurtainsofonebedclosed，andamanstandingbythem，waiting，yetdreadingtodrawthemback——ahusbandsecretlyfollowingthefirsttracesofamysterywhichhiswife’sanxiouslovehadfatallyhiddenfromhimsincethedaywhentheyfirstmet；these，andothervisionslikethem，shadowyreflectionsofthelivingbeingsandtherealeventsthathadbeenonce，peopledthesolitudeandtheemptinessaroundme。TheyhauntedmestillwhenItriedtobreakthechainofthoughtwhichmyowneffortshadwoundaboutmymind；theyfollowedmetoandfrointheroom；andtheycameoutwithmewhenIleftit。IhadliftedtheveilfromthePastformyself，andIwasnowtorestnomoretillIhadlifteditforothers。
Iwentatoncetomyeldestbrotherandshowedhimmyson’sletter，andtoldhimallthatIhavewrittenhere。Hiskindheartwastouchedasminehadbeen。Hefeltformysuspense；hesharedmyanxiety；helaidasidehisownoccupationonthespot。
\"Onlytellme，\"hesaid，\"howIcanhelp，andIwillgiveeveryhourinthedaytoyouandtoGeorge。\"
Ihadcometohimwithmymindalmostasfullofhispastlifeasofmyown；IrecalledtohismemoryeventsinhisexperienceasaworkingclergymaninLondon；Isethimlookingamongpaperswhichhehadpreservedforhalfhislifetime，andtheveryexistenceofwhichhehadforgottenlongsince；Irecalledtohimthenamesofpersonstowhosenecessitieshehadministeredinhissacredoffice，andwhosestorieshehadheardfromtheirownlipsorreceivedundertheirownhandwriting。Whenwepartedhewascertainofwhathewaswantedtodo，andwasresoluteonthatverydaytobeginthework。
IwenttoMorgannext，andappealedtohimasIhadalreadyappealedtoOwen。Itwasonlypartofhisoddcharactertostartallsortsofeccentricobjectionsinreply；toaffectacynicalindifference，whichhewasfarfromreallyandtrulyfeeling；andtoindulgeinplentyofquaintsarcasmonthesubjectofJessieandhisnephewGeorge。Iwaitedtilltheselittlesurface—ebullitionshadallexpendedthemselves，andthenpressedmypointagainwiththeearnestnessandanxietythatIreallyfelt。
Evidentlytouchedbythemannerofmyappealtohimevenmorethanbythelanguageinwhichitwasexpressed，Morgantookrefugeinhiscustomaryabruptness，spreadouthispaperviolentlyonthetable，seizedhispenandink，andtoldmequitefiercelytogivehimhisworkandlethimtackleitatonce。
Isetmyselftorecalltohismemorysomeveryremarkableexperiencesofhisowninhisprofessionaldays，buthestoppedmebeforeIhadhalfdone。
\"Iunderstand，\"hesaid，takingasavagedipattheink，\"I’mtomakeherfleshcreep，andtofrightenheroutofherwits。I’lldoitwithavengeance！\"
ReservingtomyselfprivatelyaneditorialrightofsupervisionoverMorgan’scontributions，Ireturnedtomyownroomtobeginmyshare——byfarthelargestone——ofthetaskbeforeus。Thestimulusappliedtomymindbymyson’slettermusthavebeenastrongoneindeed，forIhadhardlybeenmorethananhouratmydeskbeforeIfoundtheoldliteraryfacilityofmyyouthfuldays，whenIwasawriterforthemagazines，returningtomeasifbymagic。Iworkedonunremittinglytilldinner—time，andthenresumedthepenafterwehadallseparatedforthenight。Attwoo’clockthenextmorningIfoundmyself——Godhelpme！——masquerading，asitwere，inmyownlong—lostcharacterofahard—writingyoungman，withtheoldfamiliarcupofstrongteabymyside，andtheoldfamiliarwettoweltiedroundmyhead。
MyreviewoftheprogressIhadmade，whenIlookedbackatmypagesofmanuscript，yieldedalltheencouragementIwantedtodrivemeon。Itisonlyjust，however，toaddtotherecordofthisfirstday’sattempt，thattheliterarylaborwhichitinvolvedwasbynomeansofthemosttryingkind。Thegreatstrainontheintellect——thestrainofinvention——wassparedmebymyhavingrealcharactersandeventsreadytomyhand。IfI
hadbeencalledontocreate，Ishould，inallprobability，havesufferedseverelybycontrastwiththeveryworstofthoseunfortunatenovelistswhomJessiehadsorashlyandsothoughtlesslycondemned。Itisnotwonderfulthatthepublicshouldrarelyknowhowtoestimatethevastservicewhichisdonetothembytheproductionofagoodbook，seeingthattheyare，forthemostpart，utterlyignorantoftheimmensedifficultyofwritingevenabadone。
Thenextdaywasfine，tomygreatrelief；andourvisitor，whilewewereatwork，enjoyedhercustomaryscamperonthepony，andhercustomaryramblesafterwardintheneighborhoodofthehouse。
AlthoughIhadinterruptionstocontendwithonthepartofOwenandMorgan，neitherofwhompossessedmyexperienceintheproductionofwhatheavypeoplecall\"lightliterature，\"andbothofwhomconsequentlywantedassistance，stillImadegreatprogress，andearnedmyhoursofreposeontheeveningofthesecondday。
OnthateveningIriskedtheworst，andopenedmynegotiationsforthefuturewith\"TheQueenofHearts。\"
Aboutanhouraftertheteahadbeenremoved，andwhenIhappenedtobeleftaloneintheroomwithher，Inoticedthatsherosesuddenlyandwenttothewriting—table。Mysuspicionswerearouseddirectly，andIenteredonthedangeroussubjectbyinquiringifsheintendedtowritetoheraunt。
\"Yes，\"shesaid。\"Ipromisedtowritewhenthelastweekcame。Ifyouhadpaidmethecomplimentofaskingmetostayalittlelonger，IshouldhavereturneditbytellingyouIwassorrytogo。Asitis，Imeantobesulkyandsaynothing。\"
Withthosewordsshetookupherpentobegintheletter。
\"Waitaminute，\"Iremonstrated。\"IwasjustonthepointofbeggingyoutostaywhenIspoke。\"
\"Wereyou，indeed？\"shereturned。\"Ineverbelievedincoincidencesofthatsortbefore，butnow，ofcourse，Iputthemostunlimitedfaithinthem！\"
\"Willyoubelieveinplainproofs？\"Iasked，adoptingherhumor。
\"HowdoyouthinkIandmybrothershavebeenemployingourselvesalldayto—dayandalldayyesterday？Guesswhatwehavebeenabout。\"
\"Congratulatingyourselvesinsecretonmyapproachingdeparture，\"sheanswered，tappingherchinsaucilywiththefeather—endofherpen。
Iseizedtheopportunityofastonishingher，andforthwithtoldherthetruth。Shestartedupfromthetable，andapproachedmewiththeeagernessofachild，hereyessparkling，andhercheeksflushed。
\"Doyoureallymeanit？\"shesaid。
IassuredherthatIwasinearnest。Shethereuponnotonlyexpressedaninterestinourundertaking，whichwasevidentlysincere，but，withcharacteristicimpatience，wantedtobeginthefirstevening’sreadingonthatverynight。Idisappointedhersadlybyexplainingthatwerequiredtimetoprepareourselves，andbyassuringherthatweshouldnotbereadyforthenextfivedays。Onthesixthday，Iadded，weshouldbeabletobegin，andtogoon，withoutmissinganevening，forprobablytendaysmore。
\"Thenextfivedays？\"shereplied。\"Why，thatwilljustbringustotheendofmysixweeks’visit。Isupposeyouarenotsettingatraptocatchme？Thisisnotatrickofyouthreecunningoldgentlementomakemestayon，isit？\"
Iquailedinwardlyasthatdangerouslycloseguessatthetruthpassedherlips。
\"Youforget，\"Isaid，\"thattheideaonlyoccurredtomeafterwhatyousaidyesterday。Ifithadstruckmeearlier，weshouldhavebeenreadyearlier，andthenwherewouldyoursuspicionshavebeen？\"
\"Iamashamedofhavingfeltthem，\"shesaid，inherfrank，heartyway。\"Iretracttheword’trap，’andIbegpardonforcallingyou’threecunningoldgentlemen。’ButwhatamItosaytomyaunt？\"
Shemovedbacktothewriting—tableasshespoke。
\"Saynothing，\"Ireplied，\"tillyouhaveheardthefirststory。
Shutupthepaper—casetillthattime，andthendecidewhenyouwillopenitagaintowritetoyouraunt。\"
Shehesitatedandsmiled。Thatterriblycloseguessofherswasnotoutofhermindyet。
\"Iratherfancy，\"shesaid，slyly，\"thatthestorywillturnouttobethebestofthewholeseries。\"
\"Wrongagain，\"Iretorted。\"Ihaveaplanforlettingchancedecidewhichofthestoriesthefirstoneshallbe。Theyshallbeallnumberedastheyaredone；correspondingnumbersshallbewritteninsidefoldedpiecesofcardandwellmixedtogether；youshallpickoutanyonecardyoulike；youshalldeclarethenumberwrittenwithin；and，goodorbad，thestorythatanswerstothatnumbershallbethestorythatisread。Isthatfair？\"
\"Fair！\"sheexclaimed；\"it’sbetterthanfair；itmakes_me_ofsomeimportance；andImustbemoreorlessthanwomannottoappreciatethat。\"
\"Thenyouconsenttowaitpatientlyforthenextfivedays？\"
\"AspatientlyasIcan。\"
\"Andyouengagetodecidenothingaboutwritingtoyourauntuntilyouhaveheardthefirststory？\"
\"Ido，\"shesaid，returningtothewriting—table。\"Beholdtheproofofit。\"Sheraisedherhandwiththeatricalsolemnity，andclosedthepaper—casewithanimpressivebang。
Ileanedbackinmychairwithmymindateaseforthefirsttimesincethereceiptofmyson’sletter。
\"OnlyletGeorgereturnbythefirstofNovember，\"Ithoughttomyself，\"andalltheauntsinChristendomshallnotpreventJessieYelvertonfrombeingheretomeethim。\"
THETENDAYS。
THEFIRSTDAY。
SHOWERYandunsettled。Inspiteoftheweather，JessieputonmyMackintoshcloakandrodeoffoverthehillstooneofOwen’soutlyingfarms。Shewasalreadytooimpatienttowaitquietlyfortheevening’sreadinginthehouse，ortoenjoyanyamusementlessexhilaratingthanagallopintheopenair。
Iwas，onmyside，asanxiousandasuneasyasourguest。Nowthatthesixweeksofherstayhadexpired——nowthatthedayhadreallyarrived，ontheeveningofwhichthefirststorywastoberead，Ibegantocalculatethechancesoffailureaswellasthechancesofsuccess。Whatifmyownestimateoftheinterestofthestoriesturnedouttobeafalseone？Whatifsomeunforeseenaccidentoccurredtodelaymyson’sreturnbeyondtendays？
Thearrivalofthenewspaperhadalreadybecomeaneventofthedeepestimportancetome。UnreasonableasitwastoexpectanytidingsofGeorgeatsoearlyadate，Ibegan，nevertheless，onthisfirstofourdaysofsuspense，tolookforthenameofhisshipinthecolumnsoftelegraphicnews。Themeremechanicalactoflookingwassomerelieftomyoverstrainedfeelings，althoughImighthaveknown，anddidknow，thatthesearch，forthepresent，couldleadtonosatisfactoryresult。
TowardnoonIshutmyselfupwithmycollectionofmanuscriptstorevisethemforthelasttime。Ourexertionshadthusfarproducedbutsixofthenecessarytenstories。Astheywereonly，however，toberead，onebyone，onsixsuccessiveevenings，andaswecouldthereforecountonplentyofleisureinthedaytime，Iwasinnofearofourfailingtofinishthelittleseries。
OfthesixcompletedstoriesIhadwrittentwo，andhadfoundathirdintheformofacollectionoflettersamongmypapers。
Morganhadonlywrittenone，andthissolitarycontributionofhishadgivenmemoretroublethanbothmyownputtogether，inconsequenceoftheperpetualintrusionofmybrother’seccentricitiesineverypartofhisnarrative。TheprocessofremovingthesequaintturnsandfrisksofMorgan’shumor——which，howeveramusingtheymighthavebeeninanessay，wereutterlyoutofplaceinastoryappealingtosuspendedinterestforitseffect——certainlytriedmypatienceandmycriticalfaculty（suchasitis）moreseverelythananyotherpartofourliteraryenterprisewhichhadfallenmyshare。
Owen’sinvestigationsamonghispapershadsupplieduswiththetworemainingnarratives。Onewascontainedinaletter，andtheotherintheformofadiary，andbothhadbeenreceivedbyhimdirectlyfromthewriters。Besidesthesecontributions，hehadundertakentohelpusbysomeworkofhisown，andhadbeenengagedforthelastfourdaysinmoldingcertaineventswhichhadhappenedwithinhispersonalknowledgeintotheformofastory。Hisextremefastidiousnessasawriterinterfered，however，soseriouslywithhisprogressthathewasstillsadlybehindhand，andwaslikely，thoughlessheavilyburdenedthanMorganormyself，tobethelasttocompletehisallottedtask。
Suchwasourposition，andsuchtheresourcesatourcommand，whenthefirstoftheTenDaysdawneduponus。ShortlyafterfourintheafternoonIcompletedmyworkofrevision，numberedthemanuscriptsfromonetosixexactlyastheyhappenedtolieundermyhand，andinclosedthemallinaportfolio，coveredwithpurplemorocco，whichbecameknownfromthattimebytheimposingtitleofThePurpleVolume。
MissJessiereturnedfromherexpeditionjustasIwastyingthestringsoftheportfolio，and，womanlike，instantlyaskedleavetopeepinside，whichfavorI，manlike，positivelydeclinedtogrant。
Assoonasdinnerwasoverourguestretiredtoarrayherselfinmagnificenteveningcostume。Ithadbeenarrangedthatthereadingsweretotakeplaceinherownsitting—room；andshewassoenthusiasticallydesiroustodohonortotheoccasion，thatsheregrettednothavingbroughtwithherfromLondonthedressinwhichshehadbeenpresentedatcourttheyearbefore，andnothavingborrowedcertainmaterialsforadditionalsplendorwhichshebrieflydescribedas\"aunt’sdiamonds。\"
Towardeighto’clockweassembledinthesitting—room，andastrangelyassortedcompanywewere。Attheheadofthetable，radiantinsilkandjewelry，flowersandfurbelows，satTheQueenofHearts，lookingsohandsomeandsohappythatIsecretlycongratulatedmyabsentsonontheexcellenttastehehadshowninfallinginlovewithher。Roundthisbrightyoungcreature（Owen，atthefootofthetable，andMorganandIoneitherside）
satherthreewrinkled，gray—headed，dingily—attiredhosts，andjustbehindher，instillmoreinappropriatecompanionship，toweredthespectralfigureofthemaninarmor，whichhadsounaccountablyattractedheronherarrival。Thisstrangescenewaslightedupbycandlesinhighandheavybrasssconces。BeforeJessiestoodamightychinapunch—bowloftheoldentime，containingthefoldedpiecesofcard，insidewhichwerewrittenthenumberstobedrawn，andbeforeOwenreposedthePurpleVolumefromwhichoneofuswastoread。Thewallsoftheroomwerehungallroundwithfadedtapestry；theclumsyfurniturewasblackwithage；and，inspiteofthelightfromthesconces，theloftyceilingwasalmostlostingloom。IfRembrandtcouldhavepaintedourbackground，Reynoldsourguest，andHogarthourselves，thepictureofthescenewouldhavebeencomplete。
Whentheoldclockoverthetowergatewayhadchimedeight，I
rosetoinauguratetheproceedingsbyrequestingJessietotakeoneofthepiecesofcardoutofthepunch—bowl，andtodeclarethenumber。
Shelaughed；thensuddenlybecamefrightenedandserious；thenlookedatme，andsaid，\"Itwasdreadfullylikebusiness；\"andthenentreatedMorgannottostareather，or，inthepresentstateofhernerves，sheshouldupsetthepunch—bowl。Atlastshesummonedresolutionenoughtotakeoutoneofthepiecesofcardandtounfoldit。
\"Declarethenumber，mydear，\"saidOwen。
\"NumberFour，\"answeredJessie，makingamagnificentcourtesy，andbeginningtolooklikeherselfagain。
OwenopenedthePurpleVolume，searchedthroughthemanuscripts，andsuddenlychangedcolor。Thecauseofhisdiscomposurewassoonexplained。Maliciousfatehadassignedtothemostdiffidentindividualinthecompanythetryingresponsibilityofleadingtheway。NumberFourwasoneofthetwonarrativeswhichOwenhadfoundamonghisownpapers。
\"Iamalmostsorry，\"beganmyeldestbrother，confusedly，\"thatithasfallentomyturntoreadfirst。IhardlyknowwhichI
distrustmost，myselformystory。\"
\"Tryandfancyyouareinthepulpitagain，\"saidMorgan，sarcastically。\"Gentlemenofyourcloth，Owen，seldomseemtodistrustthemselvesortheirmanuscriptswhentheygetintothatposition。\"
\"Thefactis，\"continuedOwen，mildlyimpenetrabletohisbrother’scynicalremark，\"thatthelittlethingIamgoingtotryandreadishardlyastoryatall。Iamafraiditisonlyananecdote。Ibecamepossessedoftheletterwhichcontainsmynarrativeunderthesecircumstances。AtthetimewhenIwasaclergymaninLondon，mychurchwasattendedforsomemonthsbyaladywhowasthewifeofalargefarmerinthecountry。Shehadbeenobligedtocometotown，andtoremainthereforthesakeofoneofherchildren，alittleboy，whorequiredthebestmedicaladvice。\"
Atthewords\"medicaladvice\"Morganshookhisheadandgrowledtohimselfcontemptuously。Owenwenton：
\"Whileshewasattendinginthiswaytoonechild，hisshareinherlovewasunexpectedlydisputedbyanother，whocameintotheworldratherbeforehistime。Ibaptizedthebaby，andwasaskedtothelittlechristeningpartyafterward。Thiswasmyfirstintroductiontothelady，andIwasveryfavorablyimpressedbyher；notsomuchonaccountofherpersonalappearance，forshewasbutalittlewomanandhadnopretensionstobeauty，asonaccountofacertainsimplicity，andhearty，downrightkindnessinhermanner，aswellasofanexcellentfranknessandgoodsenseinherconversation。Oneoftheguestspresent，whosawhowshehadinterestedme，andwhospokeofherinthehighestterms，surprisedmebyinquiringifIshouldeverhavesupposedthatquiet，good—humoredlittlewomantobecapableofperforminganactofcouragewhichwouldhavetriedthenervesoftheboldestmaninEngland？Inaturallyenoughbeggedforanexplanation；butmyneighboratthetableonlysmiledandsaid，’Ifyoucanfindanopportunity，askherwhathappenedatTheBlackCottage，andyouwillhearsomethingthatwillastonishyou。’IactedonthehintassoonasIhadanopportunityofspeakingtoherprivately。Theladyansweredthatitwastoolongastorytotellthen，andexplained，onmysuggestingthatsheshouldrelateitonsomefutureday，thatshewasabouttostartforhercountryhomethenextmorning。’But，’shewasgoodenoughtoadd，’asI
havebeenundergreatobligationstoyouformanySundayspast，andasyouseeminterestedinthismatter，Iwillemploymyfirstleisuretimeaftermyreturnintellingyoubywriting，insteadofbywordofmouth，whatreallyhappenedtomeononememorablenightofmylifeinTheBlackCottage。’
\"Shefaithfullyperformedherpromise。InafortnightafterwardI
receivedfromherthenarrativewhichIamnowabouttoread。\"
BROTHEROWEN’SSTORY
OF
THESIEGEOFTHEBLACKCOTTAGE。
Tobeginatthebeginning，Imusttakeyoubacktothetimeaftermymother’sdeath，whenmyonlybrotherhadgonetosea，whenmysisterwasoutatservice，andwhenIlivedalonewithmyfatherinthemidstofamoorinthewestofEngland。
Themoorwascoveredwithgreatlimestonerocks，andintersectedhereandtherebystreamlets。Thenearesthabitationtoourswassituatedaboutamileandahalfoff，whereastripofthefertilelandstretchedoutintothewastelikeatongue。HeretheoutbuildingsofthegreatMoorFarm，theninthepossessionofmyhusband’sfather，began。Thefarm—landsstretcheddowngentlyintoabeautifulrichvalley，lyingnicelyshelteredbythehighplatformofthemoor。Whenthegroundbegantoriseagain，milesandmilesaway，itleduptoacountryhousecalledHolmeManor，belongingtoagentlemannamedKnifton。Mr。Kniftonhadlatelymarriedayoungladywhommymotherhadnursed，andwhosekindnessandfriendshipforme，herfoster—sister，Ishallremembergratefullytothelastdayofmylife。TheseandotherslightparticularsitisnecessarytomystorythatIshouldtellyou，anditisalsonecessarythatyoushouldbeespeciallycarefultobearthemwellinmind。
Myfatherwasbytradeastone—mason。Hiscottagestoodamileandahalffromthenearesthabitation。Inallotherdirectionswewerefourorfivetimesthatdistancefromneighbors。Beingverypoorpeople，thislonelysituationhadonegreatattractionforus——welivedrentfreeonit。Inadditiontothatadvantage，thestones，byshapingwhichmyfathergainedhislivelihood，layallabouthimathisverydoor，sothathethoughthisposition，solitaryasitwas，quiteanenviableone。IcanhardlysaythatIagreedwithhim，thoughInevercomplained。Iwasveryfondofmyfather，andmanagedtomakethebestofmylonelinesswiththethoughtofbeingusefultohim。Mrs。Kniftonwishedtotakemeintoherservicewhenshemarried，butIdeclined，unwillinglyenough，formyfather’ssake。IfIhadgoneaway，hewouldhavehadnobodytolivewithhim；andmymothermademepromiseonherdeath—bedthatheshouldneverbelefttopineawayaloneinthemidstofthebleakmoor。
Ourcottage，smallasitwas，wasstoutlyandsnuglybuilt，withstonefromthemoorasamatterofcourse。Thewallswerelinedinsideandfencedoutsidewithwood，thegiftofMr。Knifton’sfathertomyfather。Thisdoublecoveringofcracksandcrevices，whichwouldhavebeensuperfluousinashelteredposition，wasabsolutelynecessary，inourexposedsituation，tokeepoutthecoldwindswhich，exceptingjustthesummermonths，sweptoveruscontinuallyalltheyearround。Theoutsideboards，coveringourroughly—builtstonewalls，myfatherprotectedagainstthewetwithpitchandtar。Thisgavetoourlittleabodeacuriouslydark，dingylook，especiallywhenitwasseenfromadistance；
andsoithadcometobecalledintheneighborhood，evenbeforeIwasborn，TheBlackCottage。
Ihavenowrelatedthepreliminaryparticularswhichitisdesirablethatyoushouldknow，andmayproceedatoncetothepleasantertaskoftellingyoumystory。
Onecloudyautumnday，whenIwasrathermorethaneighteenyearsold，aherdsmanwalkedoverfromMoorFarmwithaletterwhichhadbeenleftthereformyfather。Itcamefromabuilderlivingatourcountytown，halfaday’sjourneyoff，anditinvitedmyfathertocometohimandgivehisjudgmentaboutanestimateforsomestoneworkonaverylargescale。Myfather’sexpensesforlossoftimeweretobepaid，andhewastohavehisshareofemploymentafterwardsinpreparingthestone。Hewasonlytooglad，therefore，toobeythedirectionswhichthelettercontained，andtoprepareatonceforhislongwalktothecountytown。
Consideringthetimeatwhichhereceivedtheletter，andthenecessityofrestingbeforeheattemptedtoreturn，itwasimpossibleforhimtoavoidbeingawayfromhomeforonenight，atleast。Heproposedtome，incaseIdislikedbeingleftaloneintheBlackCottage，tolockthedoorandtotakemetoMoorFarmtosleepwithanyoneofthemilkmaidswhowouldgivemeashareofherbed。IbynomeanslikedthenotionofsleepingwithagirlwhomIdidnotknow，andIsawnoreasontofeelafraidofbeingleftaloneforonlyonenight；soIdeclined。Nothieveshadevercomenearus；ourpovertywassufficientprotectionagainstthem；andofotherdangerstherewerenonethateventhemosttimidpersoncouldapprehend。Accordingly，Igotmyfather’sdinner，laughingatthenotionofmytakingrefugeundertheprotectionofamilkmaidatMoorFarm。Hestartedforhiswalkassoonashehaddone，sayingheshouldtryandbebackbydinner—timethenextday，andleavingmeandmycatPollytotakecareofthehouse。
Ihadclearedthetableandbrightenedupthefire，andhadsatdowntomyworkwiththecatdozingatmyfeet，whenIheardthetramplingofhorses，and，runningtothedoor，sawMr。andMrs。